USPS Practice Test 474-477: Free Postal Exam Questions and Answers 2024

Most likely: C
Least likely: A

There are two contradicting values in this question: meeting deadlines and working safely. Safety should always be your top priority; however, in the presented situation, you are not 100% sure that the suggested method is unsafe, and therefore it is something you should probe.

Let’s review each answer separately.

Option A: This response is careful, maybe even too careful. It shows that you are not flexible and cannot adjust to situations like those in which you must deal with a lot of work quickly. In such a situation, fixation might harm your performance, while being open to new ideas can progress you.

Option B: This response is very caring and careful, but it does not help you achieve your goal of completing the task.

Option C: This response is both flexible and careful. Before trying your colleague's idea, you only think that it might be unsafe, but you don’t know for sure. Trying it sounds like a perfect solution – if it turns out to be unsafe, you won't use it, but if it turns out to be just fine, you will be able to complete the big task much faster. This kind of behavior shows you are open to change and have a flexible working style. In addition, it shows your judgment skills, as you are only testing the idea to judge it yourself later.

Option D: This response is also active but currently irrelevant. You are expected to use your own judgment and critical thinking. Besides, you already have two possible methods, so it is more reasonable to choose one and not waste more expensive time consulting.

Most likely: B
Least likely: C

This question is designed to measure your ability to handle a high workload and your prioritization skills. Having a busy day requires you to organize the upcoming tasks from most important and urgent to least. Not doing so means that you lack the ability to prioritize or separate the wheat from the chaff.

Let’s review each answer separately.

Option A: This option is very proactive – you try to come up with solutions that may enable you to increase the number of tasks that you will complete today. However, you don’t show any prioritization skills.

Option B: In this response, you act with self-control and restraint and do not get nervous because of the high workload. Additionally, you show prioritization skills by starting with the most important tasks. This is a professional behavior, and therefore this option is considered as "most likely".

Option C: In this response, you get stressed very easily and allow the stress to manage you. It’s true that if you can not complete your tasks, you should inform the supervisor, but not right away. Take a moment to come up with creative solutions for the situation before surrendering to the current situation.

Option D: Although doing your best and making a big effort, you take a passive approach since you are not trying to come up with a solution as those presented in options A and B. The unusual situation requires you to adopt a new strategy, but instead, you stay naïve and accept the situation as it is.

A. I am solely responsible for my own outcomes, not those of others – ACCOUNTABILITY
B. To complete tasks and goals, I often collaborate with others - TEAMWORK

One of USPS's core values is TEAMWORK. This should be your immediate choice. The other option proves your ACCOUNTABILITY and indicates that you prefer independent work.

Every day, I take part in many different positions. - VERSATILITY

I have a clear set of responsibilities that I follow. - INFLEXIBILITY

VERSATILITY and FLEXIBILITY are both values that USPS appreciates. This question is an easy one – one statement expresses VERSATILITY and the other expresses INFLEXIBILITY. Therefore, the VERSATILITY statement is the preferred choice.

The correct answer is: 1($20) 0($10) 0($5) 2($1) 1($0.25) 1($0.10) 0($0.05) 0($0.01)

The smallest number of coins needed to reach the correct change of $22.45 is adding one $20 bill and two $1 bills to reach $2. Add to this one quarter ($0.25) and one dime ($0.10) to reach the correct total of $22.45.

$20 × 1 + $1 × 2 + $0.25 × 1 + $0.10 × 1 = $22.35

The correct answer is 7($20) 0($10) 0($5) 2($1) 1($0.25) 2($0.10) 0($0.05) 4($0.01)

The smallest number of coins needed to reach the correct change of $142.49 is adding seven $20 bills, and two $2 bills to reach $142. Add to this one quarter ($0.25) and two 10 cents($0.10) and four 1 cents($0.01) to reach the correct total of $142.49

The preferred answers are (A) This shouldn’t happen at all or (B) 1–2, since they portray you as a serious employee who arrives every day at work.

This question indirectly measures your diligence and seriousness regarding your job. The question uses a technique that leads you to think like a manager, but it actually measures you: After how many times you miss work without informing your manager would you be fine with being warned?

People tend not to like being warned, meaning that they may often choose answers that enable them to miss work without notifying a manager. However, this means that they tend to skip work sometimes without notification.

Choosing answers A or B indicates that you don’t tend to miss work without informing your manager; therefore, you would understand if they warned you after only a few missed work days.

Answer A might be placating and radical, therefore we recommend choosing it if you haven’t chosen too many placating answers already.

The preferred answers are:

• C - 1 to 2 years
• D- 2 to 5 years
• E- 5 to 10 years.

This question measures your diligence and seriousness regarding your job. As an employee, the company invests money, time, and effort into training you to do the job the best you can.

Therefore, they wish to keep their employees for the long term and reduce the likelihood of unexpected turnover.
Choosing answers, A and B show that you are not serious enough about the job. On the other hand, answer F is too placating, and it is also difficult to forecast what will happen within 10 years.